Utility Detection & Mapping

GPR is an essential locate tool for the detection and mapping of non-metallic non-conductive utilities. Prior to the use of GPR, utilities constructed of plastic, terracotta, concrete, non-toneable fiber, asphalt composite and other materials were generally considered non-locateable. This stemmed from the fact that the generally accepted method of non-intrusive detection incorporated the use of electromagnetic devices which cannot locate non-metallic/conductive underground facilites. GPR became main stream for utility detection and mapping when Mala introduced the Easy Locator in the 1990’s.

The Easy Locator revolutionized the use of radar in that the cost was half of the available systems and the user interface broke every barrier in terms of ease of use in the field. The Easy does not store data and most often used to mark underground facilties in real time in the ground. The IXM feature allows creation of a jpeg of on-screen data for record keeping where necessary.

The X3M is the standard alternative to the Easy Locator for gridding and mapping areas and is the most popular system on the market today for use by Subsurface Utility Engineering firms for extensive mapping of industrial and commercial facilities, and highway projects. In-the-box 3D is used for complicated areas. Object Mapper software is a very powerful software package ideally designed for use in utility mapping projects. The XV11 on-board grid manager collects data for Object Mapper post processing. Picking utilities and creating maps has never before been so easy.